In addition to the awards given to three Coloradans who have distinguished themselves in the areas of science and medicine; arts and culture; and community service, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation also named five Livingston Fellows at its annual luncheon.
The Class of 2008 is made up of: Dr. Carl Clark, Mental Health Center of Denver; Tamara Door, Downtown Denver Partnership; Adam Lerner, The Laboratory of Art and Ideas at Belmar; Christy Whitney, Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado; and Jesse Wolff, the Kempe Foundation.
The Livingston Fellowships, each providing up to $25,000, are intended to give promising leaders in the nonprofit sector the opportunity for advanced study, research, and professional development. Since 2005, the Bonfils-Stanton Foundation has funded 20 of the fellowships.
Recipients have used their grants for such things as attending seminars at leading universities, visits to nationwide best-practice sites, mentoring with thought leaders, and executive coaching. Fellows from previous years will serve as mentors to the 2008 class, creating a growing network of inspired leaders to strengthen Colorado’s nonprofit community.
Bonfils-Stanton Chairman J. Landis Martin announced the awards. “The foundation recognizes the significant impact nonprofit organizations make on our community and our state,” he noted. “Our investment in high-potential leaders through the Livingston Fellowship program is building a network of people finding fresh solutions and proving themselves as innovators and change agents.”
This year’s fellows were nominated by a panel of Colorado community leaders, interviewed by an independent consultant, and reviewed and approved by the board of trustees. They were selected on the basis of exceptional leadership qualities, potential for significant contribution to the nonprofit sector, and the ability to be a role model for other Colorado nonprofit leaders.
The fellowship awards carry the name of Johnston R. Livingston, a trustee of the foundation since 1979. Livingston chaired the board from 2000 until 2005, and continues as a trustee and chairman emeritus. His career included management positions at Honeywell and Whirlpool as well as the start-up of two manufacturing companies. He has been an active volunteer and board member for various nonprofit organizations including the World Trade Center Denver, Denver Symphony Orchestra, and the Institute of International Education/Rocky Mountain Region.
About the 2008 Livingston Fellows:Carl Clark is the CEO of the Mental Health Center of Denver. MHCD, through their comprehensive community-based programs and services, serves people of all ages with serious mental illness. He intends to improve his ability to implement processes that will increase the effectiveness and impact of MHCD while gaining a better understanding of trends at the state, national and global levels. He plans to complete an executive education program, spend time with experts focused on healthcare social policy issues, and study best practices from other mental health systems.Tamara Door is president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc. The Partnership brings together a broad spectrum of stakeholders actively involved in making Downtown Denver the vibrant economic and cultural core of the Rocky Mountain region. She will increase her understanding of how to leverage her leadership, build relationships with premier leaders and learn from their experiences, strengthen her knowledge of strategic planning by participating in an executive education program, and publish a book that will inspire others to consider careers in the nonprofit sector.Adam Lerner is executive director of The Laboratory of Arts and Ideas at Belmar. The Lab combines elements of a museum, think-tank and public education facility, and provides a place for the public to engage with artists and scholars for reflection, discourse, and experimentation around contemporary art and thought. He will explore new models of funding that involve converting social value into economic value for nonprofit organizations. He will also visit other innovative nonprofit-commercial ventures and study business practices that assist him in prioritizing and executing opportunities for The Lab.Christy Whitney is the president and CEO of Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado. The organization provides comprehensive hospice, palliative care and grief related services to people over 7,000 square miles in Western Colorado. She will further develop her leadership skills and management expertise by visiting the United Kingdom to study best practices and learn from thought leaders. She will also participate in an executive leadership training program and will complete a writing project as a synthesis of management and leadership concepts for middle managers.Jesse Wolff is president and CEO of the Kempe Foundation. The foundation spearheads fundraising, awareness and advocacy efforts for the Kempe Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect. He intends to increase his knowledge of sustainable leadership and management strategies in the nonprofit sector. He will complete an executive education program in nonprofit management, visit leading organizations to enhance his knowledge of societal issues and examine best practices, and explore ways to serve as a role model for others considering changing careers from the private to the nonprofit sector.
The Bonfils-Stanton Foundation is a private, nonprofit corporation created to enhance the quality of life for residents of Colorado. The mission of the Foundation is to advance excellence in the areas of Arts and Culture, Community Service, and Science and Medicine through strategic investments resulting in significant and unique contributions in these fields and across the nonprofit sector. More information is available at www.bonfils-stanton.org

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